Record Store Day, Apr 20

RSD has been going since 2007 and has grown into a global event. It’s a chance to show some love to your local record store, where, unlike iTunes and other digital marketplaces, there’s usually some boffin in a faded band T-shirt on hand who knows where to source the complete discography of your favorite artist — including split 7-inches and tour-only EPs.

Here’s what the organizers say about the event itself:

This is the one day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists in the United States and in various countries across the globe make special appearances and performances.

In honor of RSD, both major and indie labels tend to offer limited-editon pressings of new or classic albums. Warner Bros., for example, is issuing a deluxe edition of Built to Spill’s Live (2000) and Cream’s Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2005) in addition to RSD-only albums by Iron & Wine, The Flaming Lips, Teagan and Sara, Deftones, and more.

Why is this neighborhood news? Well, Emerson-Garfield has got a great record store on N. Monroe called 4000 Holes (video below) that’s officially taking part in RSD. The Bachelor Pad also sells records, and it’s just up the road from 4000 Holes.

Stop in, get some 180-gram vinyl and a few rare 7″ — and then pick up a turntable from one of the vintage shops if you don’t already have one. 4000 Holes will be featuring live music by Dead Man’s Pants and Gorilla & Rabbit.